Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Affordable Housing vs Low Income Households

[Kathryn McCamant (kmccamant]

> On Dec 30, 2019, at 11:58 AM, R Philip Dowds alt addr via Cohousing-L 
> <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> I will say again:  We do NOT have an “affordable housing” problem.  What we 
> have is a serious income inequality problem.  Trying to create affordable 
> housing by cheapening the product — and cheapening it within the paradigm of 
> the stand-alone single family dwelling — simply leads us further into the 
> dead ends of the unsatisfactory (“mobile” homes) and the absurd (tiny 
> houses).  If we combined more multi-family zoning with the progressive tax 
> structure that served America so well in the ’50’s and ’60’s, the affordable 
> housing problem would pretty much solve itself." 

I tend to agree with the above statement. As one who has done more cohousing 
development budgets than just about anyone, it drives me crazy what it cost for 
new construction today. And yet, on these cohousing projects no one is making 
big profits and most of the professionals could easily make more money doing 
other kinds of projects. Yes, people can adjust their expectations for how much 
space they need, but there is a limit on how much people will be willing to do 
that. 

Katie 
-- 
Kathryn McCamant, President
CoHousing Solutions

241B Commercial Street 

Nevada City, CA 95959

T.530.478.1970  C.916.798.4755

www.cohousing-solutions.com



 

On 12/30/19, 9:26 AM, "Cohousing-L on behalf of Sharon Villines via 
Cohousing-L" <cohousing-l-bounces+kmccamant=cohousing-solutions.com [at] 
cohousing.org on behalf of cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

    > On Dec 30, 2019, at 11:58 AM, R Philip Dowds alt addr via Cohousing-L 
<cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
    
    > I will say again:  We do NOT have an “affordable housing” problem.  What 
we have is a serious income inequality problem.  Trying to create affordable 
housing by cheapening the product — and cheapening it within the paradigm of 
the stand-alone single family dwelling — simply leads us further into the dead 
ends of the unsatisfactory (“mobile” homes) and the absurd (tiny houses).  If 
we combined more multi-family zoning with the progressive tax structure that 
served America so well in the ’50’s and ’60’s, the affordable housing problem 
would pretty much solve itself.
    
    Very good point, Philip. And nicely said. 
    
    How would those who are trying to develop or find a place in cohousing use 
this understanding? For the cohousing movement, for the Association, it’s a 
good long term focus. Maybe even a good argument to be used on zoning boards? 
But what to do about the meeting with the bank next month?
    
    Sharon
    ----
    Sharon Villines
    Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
    http://www.takomavillage.org
    
    
    
    
    _________________________________________________________________
    Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
    http://L.cohousing.org/info